Central Washington University vs. Purdue Northwest

Should I go to Central Washington University or Purdue University Northwest? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Central Washington University or Purdue Northwest is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Central Washington University vs. Purdue University Northwest comparison
Central Washington University Purdue University Northwest College 3 College 4
Central Washington University
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Overview

Central Washington University Purdue Northwest
Location Ellensburg, WA Hammond, Indiana
Setting Distant Town Large Suburban
Enrollment 8,796 8,679
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #667
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website cwu.edu pnw.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Central Washington University Purdue Northwest
Tuition (In State) $7,021 $7,594
Tuition (Out of State) $24,600 $14,795
Room & Board $16,314 $9,097
Avg Net Price $15,558 $9,637
Avg Grant Aid $8,970 $6,420
% Receiving Grant Aid 90% 85%

Admission

Central Washington University Purdue Northwest
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,829 6,394
Admitted 6,161 4,516
Acceptance Rate 90.2% 70.6%
Enrolled % 25.5% 26.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.08 3.19
Typical High School Grades B B
Admissions Standards Very Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 17/24 16/25
SAT Range 930/1150 920/1140
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Mar 1, 2026 Aug 1, 2026

Academics

Central Washington University Purdue Northwest
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (29%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Social Sciences (14%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (4%)

Outcomes

Central Washington University Purdue Northwest
Graduation Rate 56% -
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $47,800 N/A
Making Student Loan Payments 60% -
Median Student Loan Debt $20,737 N/A
Median Loan Payment $214 N/A

Diversity

Central Washington University Purdue Northwest
% Men 2% 4%
% Women 3% 5%
Racial Diversity High -
HBCU No No
% White 59% 0%
% Black 4% 0%
% Hispanic 14% 0%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 1% 0%
% Two or More Races 7% 0%
% International 3% 0%
% Unknown Race 9% 0%

Students

Central Washington University Purdue Northwest
% In-State 93% 80%
% Out-of-State 6% 14%

Campus

Central Washington University Purdue Northwest
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No
Meal Plan Yes No
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Central Washington University is larger than than Purdue Northwest based on total student enrollment (8,796 students vs. 8,679 students)

Central Washington University vs. Purdue Northwest Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Central Washington University or Purdue Northwest?

  • Purdue University Northwest is 8.2% more expensive to attend than Central Washington University for in-state tuition ($7,594.00 vs. $7,021.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 66.3% higher at Central Washington University than Purdue University Northwest ($24,600.00 vs. $14,795.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Purdue University Northwest than Central Washington University ($9,637 vs. $15,558)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Northwest are 79.3% lower than costs at Central Washington University ($9,097 vs. $16,314)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Central Washington University than Purdue University Northwest (90% vs. 85%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Central Washington University students is 39.7% larger than aid received Purdue University Northwest ($8,970 vs. $6,420)

Central Washington University vs. Purdue Northwest Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Central Washington University or Purdue Northwest? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Purdue Northwest or Central Washington University .

  • Accepted freshman Purdue Northwest students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.19) than students at Central Washington University (3.08)
  • Central Washington University has a higher acceptance rate (90.2%) than Purdue Northwest (70.6%)

Central Washington University vs. Purdue Northwest Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Central Washington University or Purdue Northwest? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Purdue Northwest and Central Washington University.

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/